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2023-06-17

Reddit is removing moderators that protest by taking their communities private

  • Reddit CEO plans to change the policy for removing moderators, making it easier for users to vote them out if they are unpopular.
  • Volunteer moderators led a protest blackout that made parts of the website inaccessible and gained support.
  • Users are concerned that the proposed changes will result in lower quality moderation and more political manipulation.

Industry Reactions

  • Reddit is facing backlash for its handling of moderators who have protested by making their communities private.
  • Some users are unhappy with recent changes to the platform, including the introduction of the new Reddit design and the push for the official Reddit app.
  • The situation has caused a divide between different user groups, such as power users and casual users.

Full Time

  • The author has decided to work on Marginalia Search full time, leaving their office job. This decision is deliberate and brings a feeling of relief.
  • This is a long-term project that requires finding a balance between work and personal life. The author is looking forward to having time for sleep, exercise, and relationships.
  • The author acknowledges the uncertainty and potential outcomes of this decision. They have funding for two years and believe that Marginalia Search can become a useful tool for navigating the less corporate parts of the web.

Industry Reactions

  • One commenter shares their personal experience of leaving an office job to work on their own project, expressing excitement and wishing the author of the post luck.
  • Another commenter shares their own experience of leaving an office job in 2006 and expresses enthusiasm for the feeling of having control over their own schedule.
  • A user comments on the latency of the Marginalia search engine, comparing it to Hacker News and asking about the possibility of a front-end focused write-up.
  • The author of Marginalia responds, explaining that the blog is built with Hugo and the search engine is built with vanilla Java, using raw SQL queries for quicker performance.
  • A user jokingly asks if the author has considered rewriting the search engine in Rust.
  • The commenter expresses appreciation for a project written in Java and notes that Java can perform well when optimized and used efficiently.
  • Another user shares their positive experience with writing raw SQL queries instead of using an ORM.
  • A discussion arises about the purpose and limitations of ORMs, with some commenters arguing for their usefulness in reducing boilerplate code and others noting their limitations in generating efficient queries.
  • The author of Marginalia comments on the performance optimizations in the Java code and the limitations imposed by the use of cloudflare.
  • The author of Marginalia responds to a user's suggestion to rewrite the search engine in Rust, explaining the limitations of Java in lower-level I/O and vectorization support.
  • Users express their support and appreciation for the Marginalia search engine, with one commenter mentioning its potential impact on the web.
  • A user reflects on the nostalgic feel of Marginalia and its ability to provide search results from lesser-known websites.
  • Users congratulate the author on going full time and express their support for the project.
  • Users discuss the potential business model of Marginalia and inquire about the visitor numbers of the search engine.
  • Commenters express their admiration for the speed and performance of the Marginalia search engine.
  • Users share their positive experiences with Marginalia and the search results it provides.
  • A user points out broken links to support options on the Marginalia website, and the author fixes the issue.
  • Commenters provide suggestions for better supporting and monetizing the Marginalia project, such as offering products for purchase or consulting services.
  • Users celebrate the departure from office jobs and the freedom to work on personal projects.
  • A user acknowledges the difficulty of starting a project and staying motivated but commends the author for their dedication.

Reddit appears to be restoring edited/deleted comments

  • Reddit is apparently restoring edited or deleted comments.
  • There seems to be a server error, so the website may be temporarily unavailable.
  • You can create your own instance of Reddit and make your own version.

Industry Reactions

  • Users express concerns about privacy rights and data ownership on Reddit
  • Speculations arise regarding the reasons behind the restoration of edited/deleted comments
  • Debate revolves around the legal obligations of Reddit, user rights, and potential implications of GDPR on Reddit posts and comments

Reddit App – Suspicious high number of recent 5 star, one word reviews

  • The Reddit App on the Google Play Store has received a suspiciously high number of recent 5-star, one-word reviews.
  • The overall rating of the app is currently 3.7 stars, but there is evidence of manipulation in the reviews.
  • Users have noticed that some of the positive reviews contain complaints, suggesting that they may not be genuine.

Industry Reactions

  • Reddit's management is facing backlash from users due to recent changes.
  • Users are deleting their content in protest of these changes.
  • The controversy surrounding Reddit's changes raises questions about its future and the power dynamics between platform owners and the user community.

Daniel Ellsberg has died

  • Daniel Ellsberg, the man responsible for leaking the Pentagon Papers, has passed away at the age of 92.
  • The Pentagon Papers were a collection of classified documents that revealed the truth about the Vietnam War, including government deception and misconduct.
  • The release of the Pentagon Papers led to a national controversy, the Watergate scandal, and a First Amendment confrontation.
  • Daniel Ellsberg faced espionage charges but the case was dismissed due to government misconduct.
  • Ellsberg's actions had a significant impact on public perception of the Vietnam War and the power of the press.
  • Ellsberg continued to be an active voice against war and nuclear weapons throughout his life.

Industry Reactions

  • Daniel Ellsberg, famous for leaking the Pentagon Papers, has passed away.
  • Ellsberg's leak exposed government misconduct and the Vietnam War's true nature, leading to legal ramifications.
  • The impact and legacy of Ellsberg's actions continue to inspire whistleblowers and challenge government transparency.

Pricing Money: A beginner's guide to money, bonds, futures and swaps

  • "Pricing Money" is a beginner's guidebook that covers various topics including money markets, government bonds, futures, swaps, options, and foreign exchange.
  • The online edition of the book is available for free with a request for a review or comment on social media.
  • Understanding these concepts is important for anyone interested in the financial markets and managing risk.

Industry Reactions

  • Financial markets transfer risks to those best able to hold them, such as insurance companies.
  • Financial markets enable time-shifting of consumption, investment, and efficient allocation of resources.
  • Futures contracts can be used by farmers to hedge against price fluctuations.

Louis Rossmann calls community to leave Reddit

  • Louis Rossmann, a well-known tech YouTuber and repair advocate, has called for the community to leave Reddit, a popular online platform for discussions and communities.
  • Rossmann criticizes Reddit's moderation policies and accuses the platform of censorship and bias towards certain viewpoints.
  • He encourages his followers to migrate to other platforms that offer more freedom of expression and open dialogue.

Industry Reactions

  • Louis Rossmann calls on the community to leave Reddit, expressing dissatisfaction with Reddit management.
  • The importance of valuing and listening to employees and users is highlighted, with potential consequences for companies that don't.
  • Suggestions are made for assessing a company's culture before joining, and potential alternatives to Reddit are discussed.

The note Reddit sent to moderators threatening them if they don't reopen

  • Reddit sent messages to moderators of protesting communities, urging them to reopen their subreddits or face potential mod removals.
  • The company wants to work with existing mods to find a way to make the subreddit available for the community.
  • Thousands of subreddits went dark in protest against API changes, and many vowed to stay closed indefinitely.

Industry Reactions

  • Reddit has sent a note to moderators threatening them if they don't reopen their subreddits, causing concerns about the quality of future moderators.
  • The note has sparked a discussion about the role of moderators and potential impact on community dynamics.
  • Reddit is changing the dynamic between mods, subreddits, and the company, leading to concerns about the future of subreddits and the impact of these changes on the community.

European Union votes to bring back replaceable phone batteries

  • The European Union has voted in favor of new legislation that would require batteries in consumer devices like smartphones to be easily removable and replaceable.
  • This move is a shift away from current trends of sleek, non-removable phone designs.
  • The EU's new rules could force smartphone manufacturers to rethink their designs and bring back replaceable phone batteries.

Industry Reactions

  • The European Union is considering requiring manufacturers to make phone batteries replaceable to promote sustainable use and recycling.
  • The aim is to extend the lifespan of phones and reduce electronic waste by allowing users to replace their batteries.
  • There are debates around the impact on design and water resistance, potential limitations on innovation, and concerns about the cost and safety of third-party battery replacements.

DevOps Is Bullshit (2022)

  • DevOps started as a set of practices and culture but has become divisive and narrow-focused.
  • Many teams claiming to do DevOps actually have a separate DevOps team that handles menial tasks for engineers.
  • Doing DevOps often feels like a burden for engineers who just want to focus on building the product.

Industry Reactions

  • The term "DevOps" has lost its original meaning and has become a catch-all for a variety of roles and practices.
  • The rise of platform engineering as a specialized role within organizations.
  • The article emphasizes the importance of collaboration between different teams and the need for expertise in both development and operations.